Chelsea’s injury problems have plagued the club this season, but Graham Potter may soon be given a huge boost as an update on a key player’s recovery becomes available.
What’s the most recent?
N’Golo Kante’s recovery from a long-term injury is progressing, according to Premier League injury expert Ben Dinnery.
“He’s making great progress,” Dinnery said, He’s started doing some outdoor work, but it’s all centered on that individualized training program.
These kinds of timelines are never set in stone when it comes to long-term injuries, especially given N’Golo Kanté’s track record of issues.”
The announcement came as reports surfaced that the Frenchman had returned to light training at Cobham.
Potter will undoubtedly be looking forward to Kante’s return, as the midfielder could be the key to reviving Stamford Bridge’s disappointing season thus far.
Chelsea are currently ninth in the Premier League table, ten points behind a Champions League qualifying spot in the top four, so the manager will be looking for solutions and opportunities to tweak the starting lineup in order to find the winning formula.
N’golo Kante on the verge of leaving Chelsea as a free agent
Kante, dubbed “magic” by Ally McCoist, is in his seventh year with the London club and has become a fan favorite for his contributions to the team during a Chelsea career that has seen him win the Premier League, the Champions League, an FA Cup, the Europa League, and the UEFA Super Cup.
The Blues’ contract with the 31-year-old France international is set to expire this summer, but Potter could benefit greatly from his world-class qualities for the final time in the remaining fixtures.
Indeed, the prospect of him forming a partnership with Chelsea’s stalwart and the club’s newest midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, is tantalizing.
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Fernandez gave Potter a taste of what he can offer during his debut against Fulham last week, earning the highest of any Chelsea player – winning nine duels and six tackles, taking 99 touches, and completing 64 accurate passes.
Combining the talent of his 22-year-old teammate with the experience of his £290,000-per-week teammate could be a lethal combination for opponents, as Kante is stronger in the few attributes Fernandez lacks, ranking in the top 15% of his positional peers across the top five European leagues for successful take-ons, tackles, interceptions, and progressive carries.
That said, Potter could significantly improve the midfield presence if he can finally deploy Kante alongside Fernandez in the near future. True, it does.